Page 35

what is church planting and why does it matter?

However, Anglicanism has a basis that should especially motivate it to

connect with fresh expressions of church and church planting.

to fulfil the Anglican calling

The Church of England exists to be a Church for the nation. This is not a

comment on the issue of the Church being established, but a statement 

of its mission purpose.

The parochial system, which for centuries has been the delivery system of

the conviction of `Church for the nation', might be compared to a vast slab

of Gruyere cheese. Its nature is to present as one solid reality, but

examination shows that by its nature there are lots of holes where there 

is no cheese. In theory everyone has their local church. Breaking New

Ground identified the reality:

There is increasing recognition that in many areas of urban England

there are pockets of 2000 5000 people who are unchurched for all

practical purposes.

9

The Anglican calling, because of theological conviction, is to be a Church

for all. Church planting and fresh expressions of church can help to identify

and begin to fill the geographical and cultural gaps. They also represent

ways to engage with the cultural and network patterns within which people

live their lives. To be a Church for the nation, the holes in our national

network need to be filled. To be Anglican is to want to be rooted in

communities and to be accessible to those communities (however those

communities define themselves).

to affirm Anglican diversity

An important feature of Anglicanism is its comprehensiveness. The Anglican

Church is committed to diversity, held by a sense of unity that transcends 

narrow claims to truth. In addition, a feature of Anglicanism is that it is found 

among all kinds of people. Diversity is part of our strength in mission. 

But at a local level this commitment to diversity and accessibility to a wide

range of people faces difficulties. How can diversity and accessibility be 

sustained through one style of ministry and worship, in a single congregation 

or single church parish? A combination of clergy and congregation that is

simultaneously Catholic, Liberal, Evangelical, Broad and Charismatic does

not exist. Further, this impossible combination is simply a selection of

ecclesiastical styles and interests   it does not include the wide variety of

personalities, cultures and experiences found within non church society.

Diverse, principled, sensitive church planting and fresh expressions of

church are one way in which the Church of England can further our

35